Locking device for wiring elements



Sept. 3.0, 1958 L. LUDWIG 2,854,501

LOCKING DEVICE FOR WIRING ELEMENTS Filed March 18, 1954 INVENTOR. 4001 2? Jazz /5 United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR WIRING ELEMENTS Louis Ludwig, New York, N. Y.

Application March 18, 1954, Serial N 0. 417,085

1 Claim. (Cl. 17453) The present invention is directed to an electrical apparatus, more particularly to a device for holding and locking a plurality of electrical elements as a single unit.

Devices for holding such wiring elements including switches, receptacles and the like are well-known and amongst such devices is one in which a plate having a series of openings therein was provided. The wiring elements were inserted into the openings and the adjacent edge of the plate was distorted so that it entered a recess in the element, thereby holding it in position. However, such a holding means was unsatisfactory in that a slight accidental injury to the plate or vibration thereof was likely to release the wiring element.

In an attempt to overcome the difficulty, there was used a different construction in which instead of distorting the plate, a tongue was provided on the plate to engage a recess in the wiring element. At the opposite side of the opening there was provided a pivoted cam which could be rotated ninety degrees in order that the cam might enter a recess at the opposite end of the Wiring element. Such cam member had an opening which was intended to fit over a struck-up part of the plate, to act as a latch. However, the securing means was not entirely certain as the distortion of the plate was likely to free the cam so that upon accidental contact, the cam could easily be moved out of position to release the wiring element. Also, because of the stop member, the cam entered the recess only a fixed distance regardless of the amount of space in said recess.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the difliculties and disadvantages inherent in prior device of the type described, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a single fastening element for a plurality of wiring elements, whereby one or more such elements may be rapidly and simultaneously locked in position on a holding plate.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple and effective construction capable of securely holding a plurality of wiring elements in position.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a device which is capable of permanently hold ing in place a plurality of wiring elements against accidental displacement, rough handling and vibrations.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided a substantially flat plate as usual, having a plurality of openings therein, each of which is adapted to receive a wiring element. In order to lock each element in position in this opening, there is provided a tongue at one end thereof adapted to enter a corresponding recess in the element as heretofore. The opposite side of the opening is free from such a tongue. The locking arrangement includes a lever pivoted at one end of the plate and having a series of tongues projecting inwardly therefrom, each tongue being adapted to be placed opposite the tongue in each of the openings. The end of the lever is provided with an inward projection, usualy at right angles to the lever, which projection enters the hole in the opposite end of the plate and is adapted to be locked therein.

2,854,501 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 There is usually also provided an additional securing means consisting of a slot located in the plate and behind each of the tongues on the side of the plate opposite said lever. Thereby, when the lever is in locking position, the tongue of the plate enters one recess of the element and the tongue of the lever enters the opposite recess, holding the element in position, and in addition thereto to further insure against accidental displacement of the element, the tongue of the plate is forced into the recess by the pressure of a suitable tool.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holding and locking device for wiring elements made in accordance with the present invention, showing the lever in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a receptacle which is typical of locking elements;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lever in locking position and holding a plurality of wiring elements; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the assembly of plate and element.

Plate 1 is flat and has along one lateral edge thereof a flange 2 substantially at right angles to the plane of plate 1. A series of openings 3, 4 and 5, substantially rectangular in shape, are in alinement as shown at 6 along the opposite lateral edge 7 of the plate. The latter is at a slight angle to the body of the plate. At ends 8 and 9 of plate 1 are openings 10 of any suitable character as is well-known whereby the plate may be anchored in the proper operative position.

Adjacent to flange 2 and in proximity to openings 3, 4 and 5 are a series of slots 11. The edge of said openings adjacent to said slots are provided with inwardly extending tongues 12. This permits a tool inserted in slot 11 to force tongue 12 forward into a recess in a wiring element.

An elongated bar or lever 13 is pivoted at 14 near the left hand side of opening 3 and it has a series of tongues 15 extending inwardly toward said openings and adapted to be directly opposite tongues 12 when the lever is in operative position. At the free end of lever 13 is a latch 16 which is an integral extension of the lever and extending inwardly at right angles thereto. Said latch is of such material and of such thickness that it is deformable. It cooperates with an opening 17 in end 9 of plate 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the wiring element 18 is rectangular in shape and is adapted to be inserted into an opening such as 3. Another type of receptacle 19 which is a switch, is adapted to be inserted into another opening such as 4.

Each of these elements has a flat face 20 adapted to contact the undersurface of plate 1. It has a raised rectangular portion 21 of the same size and shape as its opening 3, 4 or 5. A pair of recesses 22 on opposite sides of portion 21 are provided. A raised portion 23 is adapted to fit said opening and to prevent wobbling of the element.

In the operation of the device, a plurality of elements as 18, 19, etc. are inserted in openings 3, 4 etc. in such a manner that one of the recesses 22 is hooked over tongue 12 and the element rotated into full position within its opening. When all said elements are in position, lever 13 is moved into locking position as shown in Fig. 3, with latch 16 inserted in hole 17. Then the end of latch 16 is bent on itself around the upper edge of hole 17, as shown at 24, to permanently lock the lever in position. Thereby it cannot be accidentally loosened or removed. However, if it is desired to replace any of the elements, end 24 may be bent into its original position by a suitable tool and the lever removed. The tongues on the lever may be pushed into the recesses as far as they will go, thus holding the elements tightly in position.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a single specific embodiment thereof, various changes in the details may be made within thespirit'of the invention. For instance, latch'16 may be at such an angle relative-to hole 17 that it may be forced into the hole and -be locked in position without bending it upon itself. Other locking arrangements may be made, as for example, abolt and nut arrangement wherein the bolt passes through-both latch 16 and hole 17 may beprovided, or the latch may have a depending pin fitting opening '17- and being upset to lock it in position. Pivot 14 need not be in exactly the position shown in Fig. 1 as it may bemoved one way or the other without'detractingfromthe operation' thereof. In place of a single slot 11, two; or more slots maybe formed opposite each tongue 12 "to sufficiently weaken the metal to allow it to be distorted for the purpose described. The shapes of various elements such as the lev er, tongues, slots and openings may be varied depending upon the character of the elements to be held thereby.

These and other changes in -the-- details of invention may be made withinthe spirit thereof andthe invention is, therefore, to be broadly construed and to be limited only by the character of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

A device for holding wiring elements comprising a substantially flat plate, a plurality of substantially rectangular openings therein in longitudinal alinement, each ofsaid openings having therein a wiring element, said element having recesses at the opposite ends thereof, said recesses being flush with the plane of said plate when said element is mounted therein, tongues on the lower edges of said openings and adapted to extend into the lower recesses of said elements, a lever pivoted to the upper lateral edge of said plate near one end thereof at a point above and beyond the opening adjacentsaid one end, a plurality of tongues integral with said lever and extendable into the upper of said recesses, and means at the other end of said plate for locking the free end of said lever including a hole in the other end of said plate beyond the opening adjacent said other end and below the upper edge of said opening and a latch integral with and depending from said free end of said lever and adapted to enter said hole, the end of said latch being bent inwardly of the face of said plate, said latch being bendable and adapted to be bent upon itself when in locking position in said hole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT S 1,853,228 Richardson Apr. 12, 1932 1,909,270 Guett May 16, 1933 2,160,713 Bentley May 30, 1939 2,248,201 Russell July 8, 1941 2,560,507 Despard July 10, 1951 2,579,168 Ballou Dec. 18, 1951 

